for a friends network it could be...
a. because the business wants to filter out minors > required for
legal reasons
b. to plot the site demographic > required for business reasons
c. to help in matching age groups > required for a more productive
use of the site.
I would say that only item a) is a requirement. b) and c) aren't
actually required in order to proceed with one's registration. It
will be nice for the company to have the information, as you say,
and it will add functionality for the user, but I should be able to
register without giving that information.
Obviously the two categories cross over, but the speaker's point
is, a form is something which must be completed correctly or else a
process cannot be completed. Everything else is just information-
gathering, so don't pretend things are "required" when really they
aren't.
I think I'd simplify "required" as referring to those fields that if
not filled in would make the form application/submission pointless
for those concerned.
In that respect I think it is important not to overlook the business
needs as requirements, otherwise you ignore the reason for the sites
existence in the first place. So in the case of my fictitious Friends
Network, point c. is required, otherwise users will be unable to
select other friends of a similar age group and the core of the
site ...a search form... would lack important functionality. In that
respect b. is also something of a requirement for the business with
regards to advertising and branding the site. I'm partly saying this
imagining the raised tones of a the Friends Network owners when I
question them as to whether age is REALLY a required field. For the
Friends Network optional fields would more likely be eg Hobbies.
To bring this back on topic I personally like grouping required info
and optional info and make it clear to the user why they might like
to fill in the optional info, then the individually marked fields are
a little less crucial.
Nick
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